ERIKA WENDEL
Unilever
12
years of professional experience
Product development professional with experience supporting end-to-end product innovation in fast-paced consumer goods environments. Skilled at collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners to bring products from concept to launch while managing timelines, tracking project milestones, and maintaining accurate documentation. Passionate about beauty and fragrance, with a strong understanding of consumer trends, product aesthetics, and brand storytelling. Recognized for exceptional organization, problem-solving, and the ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion.
Work History
Associate Manager Innovation
5 Months- Led cross-functional teams to enhance product launch strategies and execution.
- Streamlined supply chain processes, improving inventory management and reducing lead times.
- Analyzed market trends to inform strategic decision-making and product development initiatives.
- Responsible for driving supplier operational results and proactively accelerating timelines in skin care innovations and renovations.
- Deliver measurable business impact through creative problem-solving, and strategic supplier management.
- Responsible for supporting R&D in packaging exploration, while keeping costs within target and supply continuity in mind.
- Manage the key procurement related IPT tasks for category innovations & renovations.
- Collaborate with R&D, Planning, Brand, Artwork, Quality, Global Category Procurement, and the external supply base.
- Coordination of flawless execution of material flow from supplier base to manufacturing, on time and in full, lead and solve material escalations as needed, drive alignment between R&D, planning, and the supplier in material escalations and alternate approvals.
- Risk assess all new materials and provide voice and proposed action plans on all potential risks to supply continuity in the future on innovation.
LOGISTICS and PROCUREMENT MANAGER
4 Years 1 Month- Evaluated supplier quotes based on purchasing procedures and competitiveness in quality, price and delivery.
- Experience managing the full lifecycle of multiple innovative projects, from scoping and planning to execution and measuring results. This also includes developing and managing and innovation strategy and pipeline.
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers to obtain favorable terms and pricing.
- Collaborated with finance departments on budgeting and forecasting activities, ensuring accurate representation of procurement expenses and cost-saving opportunities.
- Managed supply chain process, from order placement to delivery, to facilitate on-time and accurate fulfillment.
- Managed cross-functional teams to evaluate and select new suppliers, enhancing product innovation and competitiveness.
- Established and maintained accurate records of purchases, pricing and payment terms.
- Developed comprehensive project plans with clear timelines, milestones, and budget requirements, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality results.
- Prepared detailed reports on project status for stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment with objectives.
LOGISTICS and OPERATION MANAGER
2 Years 4 Months- Working cross-functionally with sourcing, operations, supply chain and finance to identify improvement opportunities and implement successful changes.
- Extracted and compiled information from databases to produce routine and specialized reports.
- Create and process all RTV requests by season.
- Maintain the automated inventory management system to ensure that actual physical inventory matches the database logical inventory.
- Identified improvement changes regarding key processes for internal controls and accounting procedures.
- Segregate OH inventory to separate carryovers from the leftover pieces which to be sold to off price resellers.
- Generate invoices and follow up on payment based on terms.
- Monitored processes and procedures with Logistics for the purpose of increasing productivity and efficiency of current frameworks.
- Responsible for Sage, GXS, and Intertrade catalogue uploads.
- Launch Priorities.
- Updated current knowledge of customs and import/export shipping regulations; effectively cascaded changes to appropriate departments.
CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSOCIATE
2 Years 9 Months- Liaise with wholesale clients of all sizes, departments stores such as Saks, Neiman Marcus, Barney's; online retailers such as Amazon, Yoox Net-A-Porter, YNAP, Farfetch; and specialty stores such as Maxfield, Concepts International, La Garconne and others, addressing all relevant needs in order to maintain a balanced relationship, maximizing sales, and enhancing customer experience.
- Manage the inventory process by working closely with our warehouse team to maximize efficiency and close any gap between actual inventory and company's financials.
- Manage the production, shipping, and inventory of samples, paying close attention to timelines and working efficiently in between delivery windows.
- Collaborate with the sales teams of multiple brands during sales campaign, manage and transmit customer orders to the production environment, update Finance by preparing and sharing order to budget/forecast reports.
- Prepare and share shipping reports for all wholesale customers with various management teams on a weekly basis, with KPMs and citing reasons for variances, highlighting other salient points.
- Building and maintaining relationships with internal and external cross functional teams with the goal of understanding the nature of their needs and requests and present information in the most efficient manner.
- Collaborate with business partners such as Finance in reviewing customer credit balances and determining action to be taken in order to maximize scheduled shipment while mitigating financial risks.
- Assist Finance in communicating financial decisions to customers as required and aid in the cash collection process accordingly as needed.
- Review and complete Vendor Agreements and process EDI for department stores for all brands and collections.
- Maintained accurate and current customer account data with manual forms processing and digital information updates.
COLORIST - SENIOR BALAYAGE EXPERT
4 Years 10 Months- Selected and formulated chemical color treatments to achieve clients’ desired hair color, measuring and mixing components with accuracy.
- Communicated effectively with clients to establish expectations and desires for color treatment.
- Trained and mentored apprentices.
- Promoted salon products to maintain color treatments to clients, making recommendations based on hair health, texture and applied services.
- Handled inventorying of hair products.
- Established rapport and positive client relationships to maintain and expand clientele via referrals and word-of-mouth.
OFFICE MANAGEMENT/CUSTOMER RECEPTION
11 Months- Worked with Finance department to install Concur.
- Processed employees expense on a monthly basis in Concur.
- Prepared journal entries for Finance to review and post in SAP Financial System.
- Set up and coordinate meetings with sales teams and customers.
- Oversaw office inventory activities by ordering, stocking and shipment receiving.
Education
B.S.C. - Communications
- Cosmetology
Skills
Cost management and forecasting
Workflow optimization
Vendor & Supplier Coordination
Interdepartmental communication
Operational efficiency management
Expense reduction strategies
New Product Innovation
Project Tracking & Status Reporting
Timeline
Associate Manager Innovation
Unilever
03.2026 - CurrentRead More
LOGISTICS and PROCUREMENT MANAGER
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Inc.
01.2022 - 02.2026Read More
LOGISTICS and OPERATION MANAGER
OWENSCORP USA LLC
09.2019 - 01.2022Read More
CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSOCIATE
MAISON MARGIELA/STAFF INTERNATIONAL
11.2016 - 08.2019Read More
OFFICE MANAGEMENT/CUSTOMER RECEPTION
STAFF INTERNATIONAL
12.2015 - 11.2016Read More
COLORIST - SENIOR BALAYAGE EXPERT
VU HAIR AT THE PENINSULA HOTEL
05.2014 - 03.2019Read More
Aveda Institute
from Cosmetology
Read More
Stockton University
B.S.C. from Communications
Read More